Monday, August 18, 2003

Local employers receive awards at chamber lunch

Two local employers were honored recently and received a special award
during the monthly Pecos Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors meeting.

The award was sponsored by the Permian Basin Workforce Development Board
and were handed out to the Best Western Motel/Swiss Clock Inn, formerly
the Rocking Chair Motel.

Jean Winget, manager of the Best Western Motel and Silvanna Licon, manager
of the restaurant were honored.

Winget has continually used the Pecos Workforce Network for posting job
orders, seeking qualified applicants, and has attended the business workshops.
The staff of 37 employees is provided with opportunities for advancements
within the company. The facility has 107 rooms, a full service motel with
a restaurant and banquet facility. The Inn offers discounts to out of town
businesses that participate in job fairs. In additional they also sponsor
a local bowling team, the high school yearbook, and school calendar.

Silvanna Licon has been employed for 11 years; she started out as a front
desk clerk and is now the manager of the Swiss Clock Inn. She believes everyone
deserves a second chance. She has demonstrated her caring qualities when
called by the staff at the Pecos Workforce Network needing to place a disadvantaged
youth. After being informed of the situation, Licon set a date for an interview
with the youth and hired him after the interview. In addition, Licon made
transportation arrangements for the youth.

The purpose is to recognize a business in the Permian Basin region that
has demonstrated its commitment to the Texas workforce in the areas of current
workforce, future workforce and involvement with the Texas Workforce Network.
Workforce development efforts that benefit business, workers, the community
and the Texas Workforce Network are eligible for consideration.

Criteria for the award include: utilizes and supports local workforce
networks; describe what ways the business has impacted the local community;
how does the specific accomplishment for which you are nominating this business
support the board's mission and demonstrates innovative approaches to hiring,
retaining, training, upgrading worker skills, job redesign, providing quality
child care/being "family friendly," telecommuting, job sharing and community
involvement may be recognized.

In recognition for demonstrating innovative approaches to hiring, retaining,
training, and, upgrading worker skills, job redesign, providing quality
child care/being "family friendly," telecommuting, job sharing, and community
involvement. For the first time PBWDB presented the Award of Excellence
to these two women in the community that have proved they have met the criteria
for this prestigious honor.

The Permian Basin Workforce Development Board has been working to restructure
the local workforce system throughout the Permian Basin.

As they continue to move their local workforce systems forward, the singular
mission of the Workforce Board will be to ensure that all citizens of the
Permian Basin have the tools to manage their own job lives successfully,
and that Permian Basin employers have the skilled employees they need.

The Permian Basin Workforce Network Centers and satellite offices have
been equipped with state of the art technology and the most current information
available. This has made the local workforce programs user friendly to both
employers and residents.